The halfling shrugs his shoulders. "I don't, but I know that ste..I um..obtaining this map wasn't easy. And that a man with much authority in the black dogs told me to go there to find the sword. So it's the best lead I have. And if it isn't there then maybe there will be clues to where it is located."

Elliott stops writing. "If we don't find a clue to Kamate at the Temple, can you be freed of the Black Dogs without it? Your guy doesn't sound very smart. After the temple was sacked, it makes absolutely no sense that the sword would still be there unless someone using the temple as a stronghold was keeping it as a trophy. That is a very likely scenario. Okay, I have here that you're contracting me as an escort to and from the Temple of Nine Swords in the Sunrise Mountains. Now to payment for services rendered. What are you offering in return? The opportunity to kill Black Dogs and rights to some amount of treasure found on the journey. In what percentage are you willing to split the treasure?" Elliott prepares to write some more and negotiate the deal in his favor.

Diplomacy: +26 (45)

Last edited by Elliott the Undying on Mon Nov 09, 2015 3:08 am; edited 2 times in total

The halfling thinks for a moment. He wasn't used to bargaining and it clearly showed. "You can have 60..I mean 70% of anything we find on our way there. As long as we understand that I get the sword when we find it."

Elliott hoped for 60%, so he was fine with 70%. "The sword, I'm guessing, is your own contract that you're bound by. I would be honored enough just to hold it for a minute or two. Just inform me of whoever you give it to in the event that I outlive that individual. I escort you to and from the temple, in return I receive 70% of the treasure with Kamate notwithstanding. I'll put in here that I get to hold it at least once for a reasonable amount of time determined by the contract holder, that's you. So if you'll sign at the bottom for me." Elliott places a simple and neat signature and holds the quill and contract out to the figure. "If you don't want to use your real name, that's fine. I just need to know what to call you on the contract and in the field."

The halfling hesitates for a moment that writes down a name of the sheet of paper. "My name is Finrick. I can't help but wonder if my dad would have been disappointed or proud if I put down a fake name on that contract." He hands the paper and quill back to Elliott. "Alright, so when do we set off. I don't want to hang around this crowded city any longer then necessary."

Elliott lets the ink dry and rolls up the contract. He smiles a little and speaks with a hint of sarcastic submission. "As my employer, that is your decision. I advise that we get a night's sleep. I offer you a bed at my guild where you will be safe from unwelcome eyes. You could get a room at an inn and we could meet outside the city in the morning. If you are uncomfortable with that plan, I have a portable fortress we can set up outside the city. I would understand if you were so cautious as to want to meet in a completely different town. We could walk, take a ship, or simply get teleported. You have many options to choose from. I wouldn't mind looking at the map and doing a little research on the land the temple's ruins rest in either. Preparation is key. Anticipate your obstacles and they lose their potency. I will leave with you this instant if you require it, but I advise that we start in the morning after a night's rest and some preparation."

Last edited by Elliott the Undying on Sat Nov 14, 2015 8:44 pm; edited 1 time in total

Finrick looks around at the few guards walking around the city. "If I've been seen talking to you. There is already a bounty on my head. We might as well stay in your guild hall. It's the safest place from the black dog's."

"Good choice. Keep your hood up, buddy. Never know which guards work with the Black Dogs and which don't." Elliott takes a direct path to the guild. He shows Finrick to a barracks that are not occupied by his men and instructs him not to tell anyone he's a Black Dog. "I'll wake you up in time for breakfast. I pay for the good food here, you'll enjoy it."Elliott goes up to his room and takes his armor off. He stops by Carly's room to let her know that he'll need her to watch over the men in his absence, and he reminds her that they need to drill maneuvers as much as they train strength and endurance. He returns to his room and writes out a martial script of Wall of Blades, one of Disarming Strike, one of Mithral Tornado, and one of Manticore Parry before putting his armor on the mannequin and his swords beside his bed. He goes to sleep mentally preparing himself for whatever lies before him on this new journey.If nothing happens, Elliott wakes up Finrick and tells him to go to the dining hall and read the four martial scripts while he ate breakfast. Elliott wakes up the rest of his men and they go on a run around the arena. When they get back, Elliott eats his breakfast and stands in front of his table. "Men, I've got an announcement to make. Long ago in an age when martial adepts were more common, a legendary temple named the Temple of the Nine Swords served as an academy for all nine disciplines. Here, the masters like myself would train to better their skills. At this temple, nine unique blades rested and embodied their arts. After the temple was destroyed by honorless bastards, the nine swords were pillaged and lost to those who followed their paths. That is, until today. The location of the Iron Heart sword, Kamate, the first sword forged by mortal hands, had been discovered. I am bound by honor and duty to my art to retrieve that sword and make sure it rests in honorable hands and not some dragon's hoard. I will be leaving the guild on this journey, and I am trusting your training to Carly in my absence. It may be weeks or months before I return, but I will return in triumph. Who's ready to drill maneuvers?"The men start to get up and go to the training yard. "I almost forgot. You'll have a guest training with you for a while today. He's a disciple of Diamond Mind who hasn't had the opportunity to see the strength of Iron Heart first hand, let's show him today, shall we? We'll train usual skirmish style in the yard. Wooden bokkens. Anyone who has to use the healing pad is eliminated. Last team with a man who hasn't used the healing pad wins. Squad 2 gets our guest warbade since they have fewer men, and Carly will be running about hitting whomever she pleases like usual. What are you waiting for? Go have some fun, guys!"As the men are leaving to warm up, Elliott motions for Finrick to come to talk to him. "Those scripts hold Iron Heart maneuvers. I'm tasked with your safety, and knowledge of these four maneuvers is the best way for you to be safe. You can forget them as soon as we leave, but I'd like for you to at least practice them with my men while I take care of some business. The gates will be closed, so no-one will see you training with us. The maneuvers won't work with your rapiers, so it's best if you grab a bastard training sword. They're wooden with an electricity enchantment, but don't worry, your Diamond Mind maneuvers will still work with the sword. I don't want you using steel when they're using wood. You executed a beautiful Emerald Razor last night, so you should have no problem with Wall of Blades and Disarming Strike. Did you understand the other two maneuvers I had you study?"

Finrick picks up a wooden sword and holds it in it his hand. "I didn't understand the mithral tornado. Everything else seemed simple enough." He twists the sword around in his hand. "Even with it being made of wood it's still kinda heavy and bulky. I think I can protect myself better with a rapier. But I'm happy to spare with your students." He gets a wicked smile on his face and heads out to fight with squad 2. A few moments later Layla approaches Elliott with Vulpi standing on her left side. "Good morning Elliott, I have the feeling that you wish to speak with me about something."

Elliott claps him on the back, "Give it 5 minutes of practice, I'm sure you'll get used to the weight. Work on the maneuvers I wrote out for you even if it's for an hour out there for my sake. If you understood manticore parry, then you've got a significant leg up on these initiates. So go easy on them. Most of them don't know any third level maneuvers. Read the Mithral Tornado script out loud before you try to use it. It might help, and if you use it successfully, then you'll scare the piss out of those guys." Elliott laughs and watches Finlick (edit: Finrick) go outside. He starts up for his room to observe them. He bows slightly when he sees Layla. "A good morning to you, Layla. Yes, and I'm sure you already know exactly what I wish to talk about. Would you mind accompanying me to my room so I may observe our new friend Finlick as I converse with you?"

He asks regardless of whether it is in the dining hall or in his room. "I guess speaking out loud would benefit your apprentice, so here goes. I assume you've read him, is there any treachery in him that I need to know about?"

After she finishes, "Okay, good. I know most of the history of the Temple of the Nine Swords in the Sunrise Mountains, but those are legends of the past. Today, what are the kingdoms like in that area? What do I need to know about them?"

After she finishes, "That's good to know. Do you know anything about the locations of any of the Nine Swords, especially Kamate?"

After she finishes, "That's too bad. Would you be willing to teleport Finrick and I to an area nearby the Sunrise Mountains sometime today if it wouldn't be too much trouble? "

Last edited by Elliott the Undying on Tue Nov 17, 2015 6:37 am; edited 1 time in total

Layla nods her head and follows Elliott up to his room allowing him to observe over the training and they talk. "I guess speaking out loud would benefit your apprentice, so here goes. I assume you've read him, is there any treachery in him that I need to know about?"

"There is no treachery on his mind, and what he says is true the leader of the black dogs want him to retrieve the sword and bring it back to them. I assume that afterwards we will simply take it back from them."

"Okay, good. I know most of the history of the Temple of the Nine Swords in the Sunrise Mountains, but those are legends of the past. Today, what are the kingdoms like in that area? What do I need to know about them?"

"The sunrise mountains are on the edge of Thay, that whole region is under the rule of a single powerful dictator. Who is also a eternal Lich that goes by the name of Szass Tam. He rules as the supreme overlord of the area but has powerful mages who work under him. Also being a lich means that the area is heavily populated with undead. Inside the mountains themselves. Raumathar ruins are scattered and legends are told of powerful battle wizards that still stand guard there. The stories of the warblades have mostly been lost to time though the stories of the lost temple being there are ancient. If it is there though, there must be a reason for why no one has found it. And scrying that location for some reason is impossible."

"That's good to know. Do you know anything about the locations of any of the Nine Swords, especially Kamate?"

"None of the swords have been seen in thousands of years. I only know the legends and rumors behind them, as well as seen a fair share of duplicates that have been attempted. But to find one of the actual nine swords would be near impossible. I have already attempted to find out where Finricks superior got a hold of that map. But I believe that will take much more time to accomplish."

"That's too bad. Would you be willing to teleport Finrick and I to an area nearby the Sunrise Mountains sometime today if it wouldn't be too much trouble? "

"Of course, I will take you just outside of Citadel Rashemar. That is the closest I will be able to get to the mountains. Something about that range is peculiar that magic or psionic powers don't work very well there. Meanwhile, me and Vulpi shall continue research into where that map came from. Just inform me when you and Finrick are ready to depart."

Elliott nods his head to her. "I appreciate it. We'll leave after lunch. We likely will be reclaiming the sword ourselves after he delivers it. There are too many unknown variables at this point to be able to tell. It would be an affront to Iron Heart if Kamate rested with the black dogs, but if another warblade beat me to it, I would consider dueling for it. Anyway, We'll meet after lunch. Thank you, Layla."Elliott watches Finrick mostly beat the tar out of his men, and laughs when he hits Carly with an emerald razor. After lunch, Elliott makes another speech and lets Layla know they're ready.

Layla meets with Elliott and Finrick after the speech. "Alright, I want you to remember that after I teleport you. I'll have no way of knowing how you are in the mountains. So don't die." Finrick takes a deep breath and nods his head. "Good luck." She waves her hands and the images in front of you are blocked out by a purple light. Then you appear in front of some massive mountains. Behind you lays the ruins of a forgotten city. Goblins can be seen running through the destroyed buildings and what's left of the circular wall surrounding them. "Well I guess we're here then." He takes out the map and begins twisting it in different directions. "Although I'm not exactly sure where here is."

Elliott kneels and looks over Finrick's shoulder at the map. "Layla said she'd teleport us outside of a Temple Rashmoshga or something like that. I'll bet that's what that goblin infested ruin is. A couple thousand years ago I would have actually paid for the opportunity to turn that whole city into a slaughter house. My, oh my, how things change. Geez, is anything labeled on here?"

(Is anything labeled on there?)

Not sure if you want a survival or knowledge geography check: Survival: +6Knowledge geography: +7